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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 29

Bali Mahārāja’s Empowerment and Conquest of Indra’s City

Prelude to Vāmana’s Petition

ओजस्विनं बलिं जेतुं न समर्थोऽस्ति कश्चन । भवद्विधो भवान्वापि वर्जयित्वेश्वरं हरिम् । विजेष्यति न कोऽप्येनं ब्रह्मतेज:समेधितम् । नास्य शक्त: पुर: स्थातुं कृतान्तस्य यथा जना: ॥ २९ ॥

ojasvinaṁ baliṁ jetuṁ na samartho ’sti kaścana bhavad-vidho bhavān vāpi varjayitveśvaraṁ harim

نہایت طاقتور بلی کو فتح کرنا کسی کے بس میں نہیں۔ تم جیسے لوگ، بلکہ تم خود بھی، خداوندِ برتر ہری کے سوا، اسے نہیں جیت سکتے۔ وہ برہمتَیج سے آراستہ ہے؛ جیسے یمراج کے سامنے کوئی ٹھہر نہیں سکتا، ویسے ہی اب بلی مہاراج کے سامنے بھی کوئی کھڑا نہیں ہو سکتا۔

ojasvinamvigorous; powerful
ojasvinam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootojasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'balim'
balimBali
balim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbali (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
jetumto conquer
jetum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Rootji (धातु)
FormInfinitive (तुमुन्)
nanot
na:
Nishedha (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
samarthaḥcapable
samarthaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsamartha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
astiis
asti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
kaścanaanyone at all
kaścana:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkaścana (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormIndefinite pronoun (अनिश्चित सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
bhavat-vidhaḥone like you
bhavat-vidhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
bhavānyou
bhavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
or
:
Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormDisjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)
apieven
api:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) meaning 'even/also'
varjayitvāhaving excluded; without
varjayitvā:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vṛj/varj (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), 'having avoided/excluded'
īśvaramthe Lord
īśvaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
harimHari (Vishnu)
harim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roothari (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to īśvaram
B
Bali
H
Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

This verse states that no one can conquer Bali unless one has the shelter of Lord Hari; mere strength or heroism is insufficient without divine support.

Because Bali is “brahma-tejaḥ-samedhita”—fortified by brahminical/spiritual potency—making him formidable like an unavoidable force, compared here to death.

Rely not only on personal power or strategy; cultivate spiritual shelter—devotion, prayer, and dharmic guidance—especially when facing overwhelming challenges.